



THE NEW ip!' K 

PUBLICLiafi^RY |0 ] 

V J 

AS t 3$N^N0X AND 
TI tfS&TIFOUNDATIONS. 

1897. 


*tb O 0 



Official 6oh)l(i|i(i()te^Io«)s 

OF THE 

SUPREME COUNCIL, 33 0 , 

For the U. S. A., their Territories and 
Dependencies. 


To the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe. 


UNION — CONTENTMENT — WISDOM. 

From the Gr.-.East of the Sup.-. Council of Sov. *. Gr.'.Insp. \ Gen. \33d and last 
degree Anc.\and Acer. Scottish Rile for the United Stales of America, their 
Territories and Dependencies—under the C. C. of the Z, near the B. B., ans¬ 
wering to the 4:0th deg. 42 mtn. 40 sec. N. L., and 2 deg. 51 min. 0 sec. E. L ., 
meridian of Washington City. 


“ORDO AB CHAOS.” 


OFFICE OF THE GRAND COMMANDER, 

No. 2 West Fourteenth Street, 

New York, July 15tb ( 1889. 

IOWA. 

Encyclical. 

Brethren : 

I have had placed in my hands a pamphlet being an extract 
from the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, June 4-6, 
1889, signed officially by Brother T. S. Parvin, Grand Secretary, 
who is also a 33d degree Mason of the Ancient and Accepted Rite 
for the Southern Jurisdiction, United States of America, and the 
head of that body in Iowa. 

I learn from said pamphlet that the Grand Master, in his ad¬ 
dress, said : “ I know nothing whatever about Scottish Rite Ma¬ 
sonry, having never taken those degrees.” He further says : “ It 
is not my purpose to argue the legitimacy of either of the bodies.” 

The Committee, in their report, say : “ We are not called upon, 
neither do we assume to determine, the legitimacy of either of the 















[ 2 ] 


Ancient and Accepted Rite bodies, now occupying the Territorial 
Jurisdiction of the State of Iowa.” 

This is not in keeping with the title of their pamphlet, which is. 

Legitimate 

YS. 

Clandestine Scottish Rite Masonry. 

The consistency of the title of their pamphlet, with the address 
of the Grand Master, and report of Committee as above set forth, 
is fully in keeping with the inconsistency of the full report of the 
Committee, and the subsequent action of the Grand Lodge 
thereon. 

It is very evident that the Grand Master of Iowa knew nothing 
(as he says) of Scottish Rite Masonry or its history; if he had, 
he, as a conscientious Free Mason, would have taken a very diff¬ 
erent course of action. No person should discuss a question until 
he fully understands both sides of it. 

I will endeavor to show some of the mistakes made in this con¬ 
nection. 

The Grand Lodge, by the adoption of the first resolution, recog¬ 
nizes the Southern Jurisdiction Supreme Council as legitimate, 
and say it is now entitled to exclusive jurisdiction in this State 
(Iowa). By their second resolution they refuse to recognize this 
Supreme Council as legitimate, and deny to it and its Consistories 
or other subordinate bodies the right to occupy the Jurisdiction 
of the State of Iowa—they refuse that which they have not been 
asked to grant.—They have no right or power to grant, or refuse 
to grant, permission to any Scottish Rite body to confer Scottish 
Rite degrees from the 4th to the 33d, inclusive. As well might 
they take upon themselves the right to permit, or refuse to per¬ 
mit, Master Masons of Iowa joining or organizing bodies of the 
Mystic Shrine, Knights of Pythias, or Odd Fellows, etc., etc. 
Therefore the third and fourth resolutions adopted by them is 
usurping a power over which they have no right nor control, ex¬ 
cept the right of usurpation, the right of might. 

Usurpation of power to oppress the weak, or for any purpose, 
is not what Masonry teaches. We are taught, at the threshold 
of Masonry, that Justice is that standard or boundary of right 
which gives to every man his just due without distinction. 

The Committee report, that the Grand Lodge of Iowa adopted 
a resolution in 1852, and reaffirmed it in 1866 ; and further report 
that in 1888 it was the unwritten law of the Grand Lodge, and 
as such it is still in full force and effect as follows : 

Resolution of 1852.— 44 The Grand Lodge of Iowa recognizes 
the Superior bodies in the United States and foreign countries 
having in charge Masonic degrees as the Supreme Councils of the 
Ancient and Accepted Rite and their Consistories, the General 
Grand Chapter, and the Grand Encampment, and their constitu¬ 
ent bodies, grand and subordinate,” etc., etc. 



Webster defines the word Superior as higher; greater; more 
exalted ; preferable. 

While it is preposterous, and ridiculous, for the Grand Lodge 
of Free and Accepted Masons of Iowa to recognize any body of 
Masons as superior to it, in its territorial jurisdiction, or any 
degrees superior to the degrees over ivhich it has lazuful control , 
they do. by the terms of this resolution and by their unwritten 
law, fully recognize our Subordinate bodies, we being a Supreme 
Council “having in charge Masonic degrees” of the Ancient and 
Accepted Rite in this State from 1885 to 1889. 

They have recognized the Supreme Council Southern Jurisdic¬ 
tion as a Superior body , 

Superior to what ? 

Superior to the Grand Lodge of Iowa ? 

For shame, Iowa ! 

There is no Masonic body superior to the Graud Lodge of Iowa 
in that State. 

The reports of bodies subordinate to the Supreme Council 
Southern Jurisdiction, printed in the “ Transactions ” of meeting 
held October 15th, 1888, show that there were at that time only 
267 Scottish Rite Masons of their obedience in Iowa. That sub¬ 
ordinate bodies existed in two places only, i.e., Lyons and Cedar 
Rapids, each of which has a Consistory, Council of Kadosh, Chap¬ 
ter of Rose Croix, and Lodge of Perfection. The two Consis¬ 
tories jointly return 267 members. The two Councils of Kadosh 
return fifty members jointly. Only one Chapter of Rose Croix 
(Lyons) makes return which shows a total of 28 members. Only 
one Lodge of Perfection makes return (Lyons) which shows a total 
of 27 members. They are a small body, with large pretensions ; 
useful only to make trouble among Master Masons, and to make 
themselves ridiculous. 

The Supreme Council United States of America, their Terri¬ 
tories and Dependencies, have in Iowa thirty-one bodies, with a 
membership of over 600, located as follows : 

IOWA. 

Grand Consistory of Iowa, 32*, C. E. Barnes, Comr.-.-in-Chief. 

Cedar Rapids. 

Cedar Rapids Lodge of Perfection, 14*, G. E. Fullerton, T. \P.\G. \M.\ 
Cedar Rapids Council of Princes of Jerus., 16*, Geo.T. Hedges, S.\P. *.G. -.M.\ 
Cedar Rapids Chapter of Rose Croix, 18°, H. C. Moore, M. *.W. -. 

Cedar Rapids Council of Kadosh, 30®, B. M. Soule, III.-.Commander. 

Fort Dodge. 

Fort Dodge Lodge of Perfection, 14°, H. A. Bliss, T. \P. \G.\M.\ 

Fort Dodge Council of Princes of Jerusalem, 16®, S. B. Wilkinson, 8 . *.P. \G. \M. % 
Fort Dodge Chapter of Rose Croix, 18*, E. D. Nickson, M. -. W.\ 

Fort Dodge Council of Kadosh, 30®, N. B. Evarts, Ill.-^Commander. 

Burlington. 

Burlington Lodge of Perfection, 14®, W. C. Cross, T.\P.\G.\M.\ 

Burlington Council of Princes of Jerusalem. 16®, B. F. Brown, S.\P, *.G,\M.\ 
Burlington Chapter Ro>e Croix, 18®, Wm. D. Inghram, M.\W.\ 

Burlington Council of Kadosh, 30®, W. C. Cross, Ill.-.Commander. 




Sioux City, u. d. 

Sioux City Lodge of Perfection, 14°, Fred. C. Hills, T.’.P.-.G.*.M.\ 

Sioux City Council of Princes, 16°, C. C. Wales, S.*.P. \G. \M.\ 

Sioux City Chapter Rose Croix, 18', C. C. Sedgewick, M. \W.\ 

Sioux City Council Kadosh, 30°, J. A. Shipman, 111.-.Commander, 

Council Bluffs. 

Council Bluffs Lodge of Perfection. 14°, u. d. Finley Burke, T.-.P.-.G.-.M.-. 
Council Bluffs Council of Princes, 16°, u.d. A. J. Br>wn, S. • P. vG. -,M. *. 
Council Bluffs Chapter of Rose Croix. 18°, u. d. F. A. Sprague, M.-.W.-. 
Council Bluffs Council of Kadosh, 30°, u. d. J.J. Steadman,Ill.-.Commander. 
Storm Lake. 

Storm Like Lodge of Perfection, 14°, u. d. J.N. Warren, T.\P.*.G. -.M/. 
Storm Lake Council of Princes, 16°, u. d. E. E. Mack, S.-.P. '.G. \M. *. 

Creston. 

Creston Lodge of Perfection, 14°, u. d. Geo. P. Wilson, T. *. P. \G. -.M. -. 
Creston Council of Princes, 16°, u. d. David A. Porter, S.-.P/.G.-.M/. 
Creston Chapter of Rose Croix, 18°, u. d. Rev. F. W. Eason, M.-..W-. 

Creston Council of Kadosh, 30°, u. d. Win. A. Christie, Ill .-.Commander. 

Davenport. 

Davenport Lodge of Perfection, 14°, u. n. E. J. Babcock, T ' P.-.G.\M.-. 
Davenport Council of Princes, 16 a , u. d J. B. Morgan. S.-.P. *.G.*.M.-. 
Davenport Chapter of Rose Croix. 18°, u. d. H. G. Sedgwick, M.-.W.-. 
Davenport Council of Kadosh, 30°, u. d. Monroe Ebi, Ill.-.Commander. 

There are in Iowa about 22,000 affiliated Master Masons. 

The Supreme Council United States of America have over 600 
Scottish Rite Masons of their obedience in Iowa. 

The Southern Jurisdiction Ancient and Accepted Rite have 
267 members of their obedience in lown. 

The representatives of the 267 Scottish Rite Masons Southern 
Jurisdiction have caused the representatives of 22.000 Master 
Masons in Iowa to make a most egregious mistake, placing them 
in a very unenviable position before the Masonic world in conse¬ 
quence thereof. 

The thirty-one bodies subordinate to Supreme Council United 
States of America, their Territories and Dependencies, in Iowa, 
are all in active operation ; not interfering with, or giving trouble 
to, any organization or individual, except in the fact of their ex¬ 
istence and phenomenal success. They have among their mem¬ 
bers the moot able, distinguished, and respected Free Masons in 
Iowa, all of whom know and admit that the Grand Lodge of Iowa 
and all other regular Grand Lodges have full, exclusive and abso¬ 
lute power and authority over the degrees of Entered Apprentice, 
Fellow Craft, and Master Mason, in their several territorial juris¬ 
dictions ; also power to make just and equal laivs, rules and reg¬ 
ulations for the government of Grand and Subordinate Lodges and 
individual Brethren, that will not conflict with the high and ex¬ 
alted duties they owe to God, their neighbor, their country, and 
themselves ; and such that will not interfere with their moral, 
social or civil duties and privileges, be they what they may ; 
always having in mind, in making and administering said laws. 









[ 5 ] 


rules and regulations, that it is their highest duty to constantly 
view their Brother’s interest as inseparable from their own. 

This is the well-settled fundamental principle of the Supreme 
Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the United States 
of America, their Territories and Dependencies, founded in 1807, 
in. the city of New York, by Illustrious Brother Joseph Cerneau, 
Grand Commander; DeWitt Clinton, Governor of the State of 
New York ; Cadwalader D. Colden, Mayor of the city of New 
York, and those associated with them. 

As early as 1808 they sent a communication to the Grand Lodge 
of New York,disclaiming anypower or authority over the degrees of 
Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason; and neither 
since that time, nor at any time during their entire existence, 
have they in any way interfered with or conferred either of the 
said degrees. They have not now, nor have they ever had, any 
power, right or control over either of the said degrees ; they do 
not now and never have exercised, attempted or desired to exer¬ 
cise any power or control over said degrees in any way or manner; 
nor have they ever had printed, or caused to be printed, any of 
the work or Ritual of the degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow 
Craft, or Master Mason, either Secret or Monitorial; nor have 
they anything to do with the said degrees, except to require that 
any Brother receiving the degrees of our Rite shall present posi¬ 
tive evidence that he is a member in good and regular standing 
in a lodge of Master Masons under the jurisdiction of a Grand 
Lodge in fraternal correspondence with the Grand Lodges in the 
United States of America. 

The Grand Lodge of Iowa, by its first resolution, recognizes 
the Supreme Council Southern Jurisdiction, and say that it is 
now entitled to exclusive jurisdiction in Iowa. In doing so they 
must of course recognize all the rights the Southern Jurisdiction 
claim under their constitution and statutes. 

Do they recognize the right of the Southern Jurisdiction, or 
any person, Mason or profane, to print, publish or sell the Secret 
Ritual of the degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft or 
Master Mason, in Iowa or elsewhere f 

Do they recognize the right of the Supreme Council Southern 
Jurisdiction to open any of their Scottish Rite bodies on the 1st, 
or Entered Apprentice degree, or on the 3d, or Master Mason’s 
degree P 

Do they recognize their right, as a Supreme Council Ancient 
and Accepted Rite, to establish lodges and to confer the degrees 
of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft or Master Mason iu any part 
of the globe ? 

Would they, in recognizing exclusively the Supreme Council 
Southern Jurisdiction, admit as a visitor to one of their lodges a 
person claiming to be a Master Mason by virtue of having re¬ 
ceived the degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and 
Master Mason in a Scottish Rite body only ? 


L 6 ] 


The Supreme Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Kite 
Southern Jurisdiction claim power and authority to, and actually 
do, all the foregoing acts; and the Grand Lodge of Iowa, in 
recognizing them, recognize their every act—their recognition 
being full, complete, exclusive and unqualified. 

By article 12, section 11, of the Statutes of the Supreme Council 
Southern Jurisdiction of 1884 (the latest I have), a Brother is not 
required to be a member of a Master Masons’ Lodge to make him 
eligible to their Scottish Rite degrees. This is an incentive to the 
non-affiliation of Master Masons—a subject now being discussed 
in Grand Lodges with a view to arresting that great evil. 

Do they recognize the right of the Southern Jurisdiction Su¬ 
preme Council, or any person. Mason or profane, to print, pub¬ 
lish or sell the Secret Ritual of the degree of Entered Apprentice, 
Fellow Craft and Master Mason, in the State of Iowa and else¬ 
where ? The Supreme Council Southern Jurisdiction Ancient 
and Accepted Rite does print, publish and sell the Secret Ritual 
of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason (Blue 
degrees) in Iowa and elsewhere. 

I am informed that Brother Albert Pike is not affiliated with 
any Lodge of Master Masons ; if that be true, any Lodge of 
Master Masons has jurisdiction to try him for a Masonic offence, 
by him committed. Suppose some Master Mason affiliated with 
the Grand Lodge of Iowa should prefer charges against Brother 
Albert Pike in his Master Masons Lodge in Iowa, for violating 
his obligation as an entered apprentice, in writing, printing, pub¬ 
lishing, and selling the (Blue Lodge) Ritual, and the charge be 
clearly proven, as it certainly would be—as I have no doubt Bro¬ 
ther Albert Pike would admit its truth at once—would not the 
Grand Lodge of Iowa be compelled to confirm an act of expul¬ 
sion by said Lodge, notwithstanding its unqualified recognition of 
the Southern Supreme Council ? 

Brother T. S. Parvin, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge and 
head of the Subordinate bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scot¬ 
tish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction in Iowa, is in the same situation 
as Brother Pike, except as to non-affiliation ; does he not sell and 
collect the money for Rituals sold under article 13, Section 13, 
Statutes of the Supreme Council Southern Jurisdiction Ancient 
and Accepted Rite to the Subordinate Scottish Rite bodies and 
brethern, in Iowa ? 

Article 13, Section 2, Statutes Southern Jurisdiction is as 
follows:—“Each Inspector General. Active member, and each 
Deputy of the Supreme Council, or of an Inspector General shall 
have issued to him one copy of each Ritual of the degrees from 
one to thirty-two. ” 

Article 13, section 4, Statutes of Southern Jurisdiction : “ Every 
Lodge of Perfection must have one of the Rituals of the Blue de¬ 
grees with the secret wwk , and may have four copies of that 
Ritual.” 


[ 1 ] 


Article 13, section 13, Statutes of the Southern Jurisdiction : 
“ No body of the Rite shall be established until it has paid for, 
or made arrangements to have at once sent to it, and pay for, the 
books which bodies are required to have, that is to say : 

“Lodge of Perfection ” 

“ 4 Rituals of the degrees conferred by it. 

“ 1 Ritual of the Blue degrees for instruction. 

“ 1 Secret work of the degrees conferred by it. 

“ 1 Secret ivork of the Blue degrees , etc.” 

Does any Grand Lodge of Master Masons in the world, except 
Iowa, sanction this ? or recognize any body as Masonic who would 
do this, or permit it to be done by another if in their power to 
prevent ? What says the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, Utah, South 
Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, to this ? 

The Grand Lodge of Iowa recognizes the Southern Supreme 
Council and gives it exclusive jurisdiction in Iowa. 

Exclusive jurisdiction to do what ?—to organize Scottish Rite 
bodies, and disseminate printed copies of the Secret Ritual of the 
degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason 
in that jurisdiction. Do they recognize the right of the Supreme 
Council Southern Jurisdiction to open any of their Scottish Rite 
bodies on the 1st or Entered Apprentice degree, or on the 3d or 
Master Mason’s degree ? 

On February 15th, 1857, Brother Albert G. Mackey, acting as 
Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council, 33d degree 
Southern Jurisdiction, opened said Supreme Council on the 1st 
or Entered Apprentice degree of Masonry without a warrant, 
dispensation, or lawful authority from any regular Grand Lodge 
of Master Masons for that purpose. The transactions of Supreme 
Council Southern Jurisdiction for 1860, page 64, show that the 
Supreme Council resumed labor on the 3d or Master Mason’s de¬ 
gree according to the Ancient and Accepted Rite without warrant, 
dispensation, or lawful authority from any Grand Lodge for that 
purpose. They had no more right to open their Scottish Rite 
body on either of the first three degrees than would the Mystic 
Shrine have had to do so 

Do they recognize their right, as Supreme Council Ancient and 
Accepted* Rite Southern Jurisdiction, to establish “ Blue,” or 
Master Masons’ Lodges, and to confer the degrees of Entered 
Apprentice. Fellow Craft or Master Mason in any part of the 
world ? The Southern Jurisdiction Ancient and Accepted Rite 
claim to have the right to do so, as will be seen by the following 
from Memoranda by J. J. J. Gourgas, published in the reprint 
of Proceedings of the N.\M.\J.\, vol. i., part 1, page 39 : 

“ The Grand Council of the Princes of Jerusalem at Charleston, S. C., 
granted, July 5, 5801, a warrant of Constitution ’ to open a Master Masons 
Lodge and to form and constitute a Grand Elect Perfect and Sublime Lodge 



[ 8 1 


of Perfect Masons, to initiate Bretliern into the Superior degrees, as far as the 
Sublime degree of Perfection, inclusive. [Signed as follows:] 

“John Mitchell. K H„ S \P.vR.\8.\. S.\G.\I.\G.\, 3 0 
“T. B. Bowen, K..H, S.'.P.*.R.\S. S.\G.\I.\G.\, 33° 

“E. De La Motta, K.H.. S.\P.\R.\S. •., S.\G.\IvG.33* 
“Abraham Alexander, K.H., S.*.P.\R.\S.\, S.\G.’.I. .G.\, 33° 
“Fred Dalcho. K.H., S.\P.*.R.*.S.\, S.\G.\I.\G.\, 33® 

“Benj. Cudsworth, Prince of Jerusalem. 

“Joseph Bee, Prince of Jerusalem, Knight of E. and W. 

“ S. Harbv, Prince of Jerusalem, 

“Israel de Lei ben, K.H., S. *. P. \ R. S. \ 

“IsiacAuld, Prince of Jerusalem. 

‘ * Enos Reeves, Knight of the E. and P. \I. \ 

“Peter Smith, R.*.X 
‘‘ Abrahatn Sasportaz, K.H. 

“James Allison, S. *.P. \R \X 

“E- Elizer, S.\G.\S,\, K.H., S.\P. \R.\S.\” 

E. de la Motta in his denunciations of Joseph Cerneau in the 
year 1814, openly published the following:: 

“I have nothiug further to say except that although Sublime Masons have 
not in this country, initiated into the Blue or Symbolic dagrees, yet their 
Councils possess the indefeisable right of granting Warrants for that pur¬ 
pose. It is common on the continent of Europe, and may be the case here, 
should circumstances render the exercise of that power necessary. r lhe legality of 
this right is derived from the highest Masonic authority in the world, (however 
ready Mr. Cerneau and his gentlemen have been to relinquish it at once, and 
in toto, which is another strong corroborative proof of his irregularity , or else they 
never could lawfully alienate their rights as Sublime Masons), as can be demon¬ 
strated to the perfect satisfaction of every Masonic, judicial and legislative 
body 

In “Transactions,” 1857 to 1866, p. 347, Brother Pike states • 

“Undoubtedly we have ample power to commission a Deputy Inspector 
General to confer the Blue degrees, and to create symbolic Lodges in any un¬ 
occupied foreign country. Beyond a question, one of us as Sovereign Grand 
Inspector General could do so. We are shorn of none of our ancient powers. 
To avoid prejudice and quarrels we refrain from the exercise HERE of our powers 
over the Blue degrees, with, on the whole, very beneficial results.” 

“Transactions,” 1860, p. 49, speaking of the Latin Constitu¬ 
tions of 1786, Brother Pike states : 

“’The assertion of our Illustrious Brother that these Constitutions disclaim 
all control over the first three degrees, wherever organizations of those de¬ 
grees exist;’ that the framers of these Constitutions ‘prohibit their successors 
from meddling with the Symbolic Degrees and that ‘their action was to be 
confined to the Lodges of Perfection, and to the degrees above and including 
the 4th or Secret Master,’ are strangely incorrect. 

“ It is true that Art XIII provides that the Sovereign Grand Inspectors, Dep¬ 
uties of the Supreme Council, may delegate to Deputy Inspectors of at least 
the 30th degree, so much ot their powers as may enable them to establish, reg¬ 
ulate aud superintend L ulges and Councils in any of the degrees, from the 
4th to the 20th inclusive. But this is a mere affirmative provision, that does not 
at all negative or surrender the power of the Supreme Authority of the Bite over the 
first three degrees : 

u Official Bulletin, August, 1870, p. 106, Brother Pike states : 

“On the 21st of December. I860, the Illustrious Brother Charles Lafifon de 
Landebat, Active Member of, and with plenarv authority from, the Supreme 
Council for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States, established in the 


\ 


t 9 ] 

Valley of Vera Cruz, in Mexico, the Supreme Council of the 33d degree for 
Mexico and the States of Central America, of which Illustrious Brother Gen. 
Ignacio Comonfort became the Sovereign Grand Comminder.” Again, refer¬ 
ring to this matter in “Official Bulletin,” April, 1871’ p. 223, he states : “Con¬ 
tinued disturbances and dissensions sea tered the members of the Grand 
Council shortly after the commencement of tbeir labors; they chartered a few 
Lodges, however, among them one in Tamaulipas.” 

“ Official Bulletin,” December, 1871, p. 451, Brother Pike states: 

“Tamaulipas Lodge was regularly chartered by the Supreme Council for 
Mexic > and Central America, at Vera Cruz, of which the Illustrious Brother 
Comonfort was Sovereign Grand Commander. That Supreme Council was 
regular and legitimate, being established by the Supreme Council for the 
Southern Jurisdiction of the Unit* d States, and having ample power and perfect 
right to establish Blue Lodges of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. The 
Lodge in question was, and is, as regular a Lodge as any in Texas.” 

In a letter written to the Supreme Council at Peru, February 
^7th, 18&7, Brother Albert Pike writes : 

“And when, In 1801, vitality and operation was given to the Grand Con¬ 
stitutions by the organization of the Supreme Council at Charleston, jurisdic¬ 
tion over the symbolic degrees was expressly waived in favor of the Grand 
Lodge, but was not entirely ceded or relinquished ; and we have always held 
our right to administer them to be undiminished, and that if necessity should 
require, it could be resumed. *****” 

“The doctrine of exclusive Grand Lodge jurisdiction has grown up in the 
United States, and been accepted here as politic and in the interest of harmony 
and unity. It does not prevail in Europe, and is not a part of Masonic or¬ 
ganic law ; and its zealots here h ive not been content to stop when they had 
pushed it to the verge of absurdity.” 

Does the Grand Lodge of Iowa, in unqualifiedly recognizing 
and giving exclusive jurisdiction to the Southern Jurisdiction 
Ancient and Accepted Rite, subscribe to this monstrous doctrine 
as Masonic ? Would the Grand Lodge of Iowa, in recognizing 
the Supreme Council Southern Jurisdiction, admit as a visitor to 
one of its lodges a person claiming to be a Master Mason by virtue 
of having received the degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow 
Craft and Master Mason in a Scottish Rite body only ? 

Brother Albert Pike, Grand Commander Supreme Council 
Southern Jurisdiction Ancient and Accepted Rite, says, in 
“ Foulhouzeism,” page 108 : “1st, That a person who has re¬ 
ceived the three Symbolic degrees in a regular lodge of either the 
English, French or Scottish Rite is a regular Master Mason, and 
every regular body of Masons in the world is bound to consider, 
recognize and receive him as such. “2d, That a Master Mason 
who has regularly received the third degree in one Rite, does not 
need to receive it in another in order to be admitted to visit in 
lodges of that order." 

Brother Albert Pike, holding the views he does of his power 
and right over the “Blue degrees" to confer them if he shall 
decide to do so ; also to print, publish and sell the Secret Rituals 
of the “Blue degrees," was looking well into the future when he 
said, in 1884 : “ If we admit the right of a Grand Lodge to de¬ 
cide our Supreme Council legitimate, this would admit its power 


[ 10 ] 


to decide ns illegitimate, if it should so arrive at that conclusion. 
The power to recognize and tolerate, implies the power to con¬ 
demn and prohibit. I think it is due to our self-respect that we 
should advise the Brethren of our obedience not to seek anywhere 
in our jurisdiction to have action taken by the Grand Lodges.” 

AVill not the Grand Lodges of the United States of America 
inquire into the peculiar position now occupied by the Grand 
Lodge of Iowa, in its hasty, inconsiderate action in fully and un¬ 
qualifiedly recognizing the Supreme Council Ancient and Ac¬ 
cepted Rite Southern Jurisdiction ; or any other body than a 
just and duly-constituted Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted 
Masons having jurisdiction only over the degrees of Entered Ap¬ 
prentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason ? 

The recognition by the Grand Lodge of Iowa of the Supreme 
Council Ancient and Accepted Rite of the Southern Jurisdiction 
means that they recognize the full power claimed by said Su¬ 
preme Council, i.e ., to make Masons, print and sell secret rituals 
of the degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master 
Mason, and organize bodies thereof, if they desire to do so. 

Would the Grand Lodge of Iowa have adopted that report and 
resolution if they had known what appears to be the full effect of 
their action ? Probably not. 

Grand Lodges or Grand Masters have no constitutional nor in¬ 
herent right to interfere with, or power over, a Chapter of Royal 
Arch Masons, Council of Royal and Select Masters, Commandery 
of Knights Templar, Temple of Mystic Shrine, Supreme Council 
of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, the Royal Masonic 
Rite, or their constituent bodies, notwithstanding none but Master 
Masons are eligible for the several orders named. Nor have they 
any right, constitutional or inherent, to sav what bodies or or¬ 
ganizations, Masonic or other, that any Master Mason of its 
obedience shall or shall not join or become a member of; nor 
have they any right to demand any information from such Master 
Masons as to who are members of the Temple of the Mystic 
Shrine, Chapter of Rose Croix, Lodge of Perfection, Consistory, 
or the Odd Fellows’ Lodge, or Brotherhood of Engineers, or 
Knights of Pythias, or the Church, or their political organiza¬ 
tion, nor any organizations of which they may be members, as to 
who are or may become members thereof; nor have they any 
constitutional or inherent right to ask or demand that said Master 
Masons shall sever their connections with any such organizations. 

The fact that a Grand Lodge adopts a resolution, or report of 
a Committee which is clearly beyond its Constitutional power to 
do regardless of consequences, and that such resolution or report, 
interferes with the vested right of any Master Mason, it cannot 
be expected, that such Master Mason will stand idly by and per¬ 
mit without resistance his rights to be taken from him, anymore 
than he would submit to have his property taken from him by 
force unlawfully. 


[ 11 ] 


When the weak are oppressed by the strong, the weak are forced 
—compelled, to resist for their own personal safety. 

I bow in humble submission to the will of the Grand Master and 
Grand Lodge in his or its constitutional rights, powers and pre¬ 
rogatives, over the degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, 
and Master Mason, in its Territorial Jurisdiction; they being 
degrees lawfully and exclusively in its control and keeping ; and 
all are bound to obey the Edicts of the Grand Master, and Grand 
Lodge, when such Edicts are kept within the constitutional 
power of the Grand Lodge, but if they arbitrarily and without 
power to do so interfere to the detriment of our business, pleasure, 
family, or social relations, we are not bound by them; if the 
Grand Lodge passed a resolution or the Grand Master issued an 
edict that we must surrender to it our property, or sever our 
family relations, or discontinue our church membership, or our 
membership in any lawful organization which we are or may be¬ 
come members of, we are not bound to nor would we obey it. 

The Grand Master, and the Grand Lodge have their bounds 
which they cannot pass, they are well defined by the Constitution 
and Ancient Landmarks, and are well understood. 

In the report of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence of 
the Grand Lodge of New York in 1874, written by its Chairman, 
Most Worshipful James Gibson, Past Grand Master, reviewing 
the proceedings of Iowa for 1873, he says : 

“ The Grand Lodge of Iowa is Supreme within the Jurisdiction 
of Iowa, but not infallible. It is composed of men, who though 
Masons, are of like passions as other men. and as liable to error. 
We are believers in non-interference with the exercise of that 
jurisdiction in any other way, or for any other purpose, than the 
general benefit, protection, or safety of the Craft. 

“ Grand Lodges are not possessed of absolute unquestioned and 
despotic power. There was never a time in Ancient Craft 
Masonry, when even a Grand Master had any such authority as 
that—and his power is older and greater than that of the Grand 
Lodge. The Craft are Free Masons. They are not, and never were 
Slaves. Indeed the bondman could never be a Craftsman, as he 
was not free born. The Institution is cosmopolitan in its 
character, and embraces in its membership many different nation¬ 
alities creeds, races and conditions * * * * *. 

“ If the Grand Lodge of New York should, at its next Annual 
Communication, order the esoteric (secret) work of Masonry, or 
any part of it, to be printed, and a copy put in the custody of 
each Lodge, she would thereby violate a landmark, and her 
offence, instead of being lessened in its criminality by the fact of 


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her being a Grand Lodge, would, on the contrary, be greatly in¬ 
creased, as the evil consequences of the crime, and the distin¬ 
guished station she occupies, would magnify her guilt.” 

When a Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, so far for¬ 
gets its dignity, that it will lend itself to the upholding the fall¬ 
ing fortunes of a body or organization over which it has not and 
never had control or authority ; it is not speaking harsh of it, to 
say, that it occupies a very peculiar position as a Grand Lodge of 
Free and Accepted Masons. 

The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Southern and 
Northern Jurisdiction is weak and helpless indeed, if they are 
compelled to call upon the Grand Lodges and say : 

“ Help me, or I sink.” 

We ask no such help ; and being in the right we will not sur¬ 
render our manhood at the command or caprice of any one. 

We fear no intimidation, persecution nor danger. 

We are entirely self reliant, and abundantly able to take care 
of ourselves in all emergencies. 

Fraternally and Courteously submitted, 

JOHN J. GORMAN, 33°, 

Grand Commander, 








